Ashbourne Day Nurseries At Swanbourne

Inspection of Ashbourne Day Nurseries At Swanbourne Winslow Road, Swanbourne, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire MK17 0SW

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Overall effectiveness Requires improvement

The quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Overall effectiveness at previous inspection Good

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The provision requires improvement

There have been many changes to management and staffing at the nursery. The curriculum is under review, with the provider shaping and developing the programme of what children will learn. Senior staff review teaching and learning and have high ambition for what children will learn.

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The provision requires improvement

The curriculum intentions are clear for children of all ages. There are good plans for what they will learn, which are appropriate for their age and stage of development. However, staff feel under pressure and this compromises their capacity to deliver the curriculum well. Some activities are planned simply to contain children rather than provide them with quality learning experiences. The provider does not ensure that staff have supervision that will enable them to improve their personal effectiveness. Despite this weakness, staff appear motivated in their engagement with children most of the time. Where there is less strong practice, senior staff intervene to provide guidance. As a result, children enjoy activities. Staff encourage them and, overall, know how to help them to progress in their learning.

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The provision requires improvement

Children appear happy and settled. Babies smile readily and are happy to follow the daily routine. Older children are talkative and eager to engage with adults. Staff understand how children's brains develop and know how to support them to manage their emotions and feelings. This helps to encourage children to play well together.

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need to do better?

n Staff know the curriculum well and understand how children learn. They can identify what children need to learn next to move their development forward. Children are making steady progress. Staff encourage children to learn outdoors. Children enjoy exploring different resources that interest them, such as twigs and leaves. This encourages children's natural curiosity. Staff engage with children well. For example, they get down to children's level and talk with them about their learning. This helps to promote children's own impulse to talk and communicate. n Although staff can support children's learning well, their time is taken away from teaching and supporting children as they carry out household tasks, such as cleaning. Staff experience frustration as the provider does not ensure that they always have the equipment they need, such as a computer printer. This means that they make time-consuming handwritten records when required, which

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need to do better?

further takes their attention away from children. n There is an insufficient induction for new staff. Staff who are undertaking training do not have the time they need to absorb and understand how to apply

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need to do better?

15 November 2024 their learning. This compromises staff's ability to benefit from their induction and training so they can increase the quality of their support for children. Furthermore, supervision for staff at all levels is not effective in enabling them to improve the quality of the provision for children. n The provider does not ensure that staff have the support they need. Staff feel undervalued and unheard. Consequently, morale is low and staff absence, sickness and turnover are high. Some staff have recently changed the rooms where they work to meet staffing shortfalls. This has a negative effect on the key-person arrangements. Although key people know children extremely well, when they leave or are off work, other staff do not know children so well. The continual changes to staffing negatively effect children's emotional security. n During the daily routine, such as before and after mealtimes, staff often 'hold'

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need to do better?

children at activities. This is because other staff are undertaking tasks, such as organising children's meals and tidying up. These activities become less meaningful, and children fidget and become irritable as they wait. n All staff clearly know and understand their responsibilities in keeping children safe. They readily recognise any indicators that children might be at risk of harm and know what action to take. Those with responsibility for safeguarding at the nursery are knowledgeable about their role and the measures to take to refer any concerns about children's welfare to local safeguarding partners. This contributes towards children being safe at the nursery. n Staff show genuine care for children. They are kind and compassionate and respond to children with warmth. Parents have the chance to talk to staff about their children's development when they collect them each day. This helps them to know how to support children's development at home.

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Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

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Safeguarding

There is an open and positive culture around safeguarding that puts children's interests first.

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Due date

provide staff with effective supervision to establish coaching and create a culture of mutual support and teamwork that values staff feedback to bring about improvement 06/12/2024

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Due date

15 November 2024 ensure that staff who are undertaking training have the support they need to successfully understand and consolidate their new learning to enhance the quality of their teaching 06/12/2024

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Due date

develop a stable, settled staff team so the key-person arrangements are consistent and support children's emotional security. 06/12/2024

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should:

n improve the effectiveness of staff deployment so that children consistently benefit from purposeful activities and positive interaction and support.

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Setting details

Unique reference number 2555137 Local authority Buckinghamshire Inspection number 10372795 Type of provision Childcare on non-domestic premises

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Registers

Early Years Register, Compulsory Childcare Register, Voluntary Childcare Register Day care type Full day care

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inspection

Total number of places 58 Number of children on roll 119 Name of registered person Ashbourne Day Nurseries Limited

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reference number

Telephone number 01296 720638 Date of previous inspection 25 April 2022

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Information about this early years setting

Ashbourne Day Nurseries At Swanbourne registered in 2019 and is situated in Swanbourne, Buckinghamshire. The nursery operates from 7.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, for most weeks of the year. The provider employs 29 members of staff, of whom 19 hold qualifications at level 2 or above. The setting offers government funded places for children aged nine months to four years and children in receipt of funding for disadvantage.

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Inspection activities

n This inspection was prioritised following a risk assessment process. n The inspector discussed the intent of the curriculum and observed its implementation during activities, indoors and outdoors, and assessed the impact this was having on children's learning. n A joint observation was completed and discussed with the manager. n During the inspection, the inspector held a meeting with the manager and the area manager. She looked at relevant documentation, such as evidence of the suitability of staff working in the nursery. n The inspector spoke with staff and children at suitable times throughout the inspection. n Parents were invited to share their views with the inspector. Several parents discussed their views during the inspection, and the inspector took account of all feedback received.

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Inspection activities

We carried out this inspection under sections 49 and 50 of the Childcare Act 2006 on the quality and standards of provision that is registered on the Early Years Register. The registered person must ensure that this provision complies with the statutory framework for children's learning, development and care, known as the early years foundation stage.

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Inspection activities

15 November 2024 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children's services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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Inspection activities

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